What Are Essential Oils Used For?
One of the most common ways of using essential oils is in aromatherapy. This is a form of therapy that uses the oils to have a positive effect on the mind and body – and is experienced through your sense of smell. There are two reasons for this: first, scent is linked to the deepest parts of the brain including your thoughts and emotions, and secondly, essential oils are often thought to help ease physical aches, pains and other ailments (1).
How To Use Essential Oils
Essential oils enter the body in three main ways – by being applied to the skin, inhaled or ingested. This application method is very much dependent on what you want, as well as the type of essential oil you are using, as some for example, can only be taken in certain ways. Some people use essential oils in aromatherapy massages, others in their bath water and many through the likes of candles and diffusers.
Are Essential Oils Beneficial?
There are many types of essential oils, extracted from various natural elements, and each have their own properties. They have been being used to treat illness and promote wellbeing for many years, but are now gaining in popularity thanks to scientific confirmation of their benefits to health, both mental and physical. Once the aroma is in the air, essential oil fragrances can promote mental wellbeing and uplifted moods among other things. Not only this, but essential oil can also help to purify the air, leading to fresher, soothing breathing for those in the same room.
How to use essential oils to scent a room
At Air Wick®, we offer many ways to enjoy the essential oils safely. Here are just some of those ways you can enjoy our ‘essential oils’ collections:
Essential mist diffuser
Our Essential Mist Diffuser transforms natural essential oils into a gentle, fragrant mist that is dispersed throughout your home. You can find out how to use the Air Wick® Essential Mist Diffuser here.
Reed diffusers
Alternatively, the Air Wick® Reed Diffuser uses natural rattan stems to carry fragrance oil that is released into the air. You can find out how to use the Air Wick® Reed Diffuser here.
Candles
Our Air Wick® Essential Oil Candles are combined with the rich origins of essential oils, so you can create a sensuous setting for any occasion – all made with extractions from fruits, flowers and plants.
Automatic sprays
The Air Wick® Freshmatic® releases bursts of continuous fresh fragrance, as well as your choice of essential oils throughout your home throughout the day across three intensity settings. You can find out how to use the Air Wick® Freshmatic® here.
Liquid electricals
Finally, the Air Wick® Plug-Ins are perfect for diffusing natural essential oils around any room in your home no matter what your preferred scent. You can find out how to use the Air Wick® Plug-In here.
Do essential oils help you sleep?
Aside from their scents, essential oils are each known for their own unique properties. If you’re wondering what oils to diffuse for sleep – those such as lavender, cedarwood and jasmine – are considered to have soothing qualities that make them particularly useful as an all-natural remedy for improving overall sleep.[2][3][4][5] People may use these in different ways depending on the essential oil, from placing a drop or two on their bedsheets, to using a diluted amount in the bath, or, as is most common, through a diffuser.
Many people believe that these powerful sleeping properties come in part from how closely scent is linked to our memory, triggers and emotions. This could be why lavender essential oil is so popular as a sedative, as it is so often associated with feelings of calmness, relaxation and unwinding. You can read more about lavender essential oil here. Find out about the other essential oils which are often associated with sleep below:
Many people tend to associate peppermint with proper quality sleep thanks to its familiar scent, but on the contrary, this is not the case. Peppermint essential oil is actually in the same bracket as bergamot, grapefruit and oranges, which are known for their energising and invigorating properties.
Cedarwood is a popular essential oil to use for sleep and has a deep, woody aroma derived from tree bark. This is thought to reduce the likes of anxiety and stress, as well as acting as a natural sedative for sleeping. It is often considered to be beneficial for occasional insomnia.[6]
Another essential oil linked with sleep is jasmine, and studies have suggested its sedative properties come from relief of the likes of anxiety, stress and anger.[7] By clearing our minds of the emotions and feelings that keep us tossing and turning at night, it can offer us a better chance at good quality sleep.
Essential oil products can vary in quality, so it’s important to do your research. At Air Wick®, we source our essential oils by looking for healthy plants of high quality and combining the oils in a blend of fragrances to lock in the scent. Our safe processing and manufacturing oversight of both the oils and their diffusers further ensures our essential oils offer a safe, quality-assured experience.
- https://www.aromatherapyassociates.com/what-is-aromatherapy
- https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/essential-oils-for-sleep#research
- https://www.nhs.uk/news/mental-health/lavender-scent-may-help-anxiety-mice/
- https://www.tsft.nhs.uk/media/45674/the-use-of-essential-oils.pdf/
- https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/departments/maxfac/Macmillan-Centre/aromatherapy.htm
- https://www.healthline.com/health/cedarwood-essential-oil#benefits
- https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-jasmine-essential-oil.html#sedative-effect
